Teen eyes record for solo world flight

LONDON: A 19-year-old is paving the way for girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) by setting the record for the youngest woman to fly solo around the world next month. Belgian-British Zara Rutherford sets off on her 51 000km journey in her bespoke Shark ultralight plane, the world’s fastest microlight, on August 11.

Once complete, Rutherford will be the youngest person to fly a microlight around the world and the youngest woman to fly solo around the world.

The current world record for the latter is held by Shaesta Waiz who completed the journey aged 30.

“My goal is to bring the records closer and then hopefully inspire other girls to try to beat my record and then go and start competing with the boys,” she said.

The teenager will be funding the trip herself, with the help of sponsors, and hopes to complete the journey in two to three months.